[MD] Why are things called patterns?

[craigerb at comcast.net]

[Craig, previously]
> Can iron filings apprehend a magnet & arrange themselves in a pattern?
> Can a mother mouse apprehend the cry of her joey?

[Marsha]
> Not iron filings, a magnet, mother mouse or her joey are apprehended apart from human cognitive processes.

I HATE to say this, but it depends on what you mean by "apart from human cognitive processes".
But what I am HAPPY to say is that "before there were humans with their cognitive processes, a joey's cries were apprehended by its mother".  
Craig